Indexing vertical rotary mask-washing machine



June 1969 H. SZCZEPANSKI 3,448,744 Y INDEXING VERTICAL ROTARYMASK-WASHINGMACHINE Filed Sept. 15, 1967 Sheet of s Jun 10, 1969 H.SZCZEPANSKI 3,448,744

INDEXING VERTICAL ROTARY MASK-WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 15, 1967 Sheet2 of s INVENTORQ HARP) SZCZEPA/VSK/ June 10, 1969 H. SZCZEPANSKI3,448,744

INDEXING VERTICAL ROTARY MASK-WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 15, 1967 Sheet3 of 5 nwavrpn HARRY S'ZCZEPA/VSK/ June 10, 1969 H. SZCZEPANSKI INDEXINGVERTICAL ROTARY MASK-WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 15, 1967 wvewrok. HARRY.SZCZEPA/VSK/ June 10, 1969 H. SZCZEPANSKI ,4

INDEXING VERTICAL ROTARY MASK-WASHING MACHINE Sheet 5 of5 Filed Sept.15, 1967 mm mm flu ,Mm/M v 1 K S w m MH United States Patent 3,448,744INDEXING VERTICAL ROTARY MASK-WASHING MACHINE Harry Szczepanski, 755Oakleigh, NW., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49504 Filed Sept. 15, 1967, Ser. No.668,078 Int. Cl. B08b 3/04 U.S. Cl. 13479 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A mask-washing machine with chambers defined by a group ofsubstantially radial panels forming a rotor moving within a surroundinghousing, the rotor being provided with mask-receiving devices forconducting masks between loading-unloading and processing stationsdetermined by indexing mechanism (controlling the angular movement ofthe rotor about its axis) to place the mask in predetermined positionswith respect to processing devices mounted in the. housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The placement of intricate patterns of paint onworkpieces is normally done by directing a paint spray at the workpiecethrough a mask. The openings in the mask define the areas on theworkpiece receiving the paint. In high-production operations of thisnature, accumulations of paint are developed on the mask, and these mustbe periodically removed. This is commonly done through either manual orautomatic washing equipment which projects solvents of variousdescriptions against the mask surface, or utilizes a relativelyrecently-developed technique of softening a Waxy coating on the mask torelease the superimposed paint that has accumulated. Automaticmask-washing machines have usually utilized conveying devices to movethe mask from a loading-unloading station through the washing and dryingprocesses. The use of highly-volatile sprays that produce notoriouslytoxic and explosive fumes creates a very difficult design problem in theautomatic washing equipment, as either the washing station or the entiremachine must be well sealed to control ventilation and confinement ofvapors. To seal the entire machine requires the opening and closing ofaccess doors at the loading-unloading station, and produces a volume ofvapor within the machine that increases the ducting and vapor-removalproblems. Nevertheless, this latter expedient has been commonly used inthe construction of mask-washing equipment.

The present invention provides a practical arrangement for moving sealedchambers around through a housing between loading-unloading andprocessing stations. These chambers are defined by the substantiallyradial panels of a rotor arranged preferably on a vertical axis, andmoving within a surrounding housing. The vertical orientationaccommodates long masks commonly used in industrial processes, orconsiderable groups of smaller masks. This arrangement also facilitatesthe access to the machine by an operator in comfortable standingposition, and considerably decreases the amount of necessary floor spacefor a given washing capacity. The rotor and chamber structure has thesuperficial appearance of a revolving door, and the advantages ofincorporating this type of structure in a machine of this nature arevery significant, both with respect to the cost of construction, andalso with respect to the performance and decreased maintenance. Thehousing has an opening exposing the rotor sector between angularlyadjacent panels, and ventilation means are incorporated to assure inflowat the opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The several features of the invention will beanalyzed in detail through reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a complete maskwashing machineembodying the present invention, as viewed from the operatorsloading-unloading station.

FIGURE 2 is a section on the plane 2-2 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the machine shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the machine shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and3.

FIGURE 5 is an opposite side elevation with respect to FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view on a plane through the axis of the rotor.

FIGURE 7 is a view on the plane 7-7 of FIGURE 6, on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 8 is a view on the plane 88 of FIGURE 6, on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 9 is a view of the rotating and control mechanism associated withindexing the rotor.

FIGURE 10 is a schematic illustration on a horizontal plane through amodified form of the invention.

FIGURE 11 is a section of a disengageable drive system for moving maskracks and is associated with the FIGURE 10 modification.

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view showing a rotatable mask rackarrangement for use in conjunction with a FIGURES 10-11 mechanism.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 through 9 of the drawings, the illustratedmachine includes a housing indicated generally at 20 defined by thesheet steel side sections 21- 24, the inner vertical sheets 25-27, thefioor 28, the upper plate 29, the tank structure 30, and the sump 31.Bearings 32 and 33 in the floor 28 and top plate 29, respectively, aremounted on a vertical axis in the housing 20 for receiving the journals34 and 35 of the rotor assembly 36. The construction of the rotor isbest shown in FIGURE 2, and includes the tube 37 to which the bracketplates 38- 40 are secured in any convenient manner, such as by screws orplug welding. At their adjacent points, the bracket plates 38-40 definespaced flanges receiving the axial and radially-extending panels 41-43at evenly-spaced intervals around the axis of the rotor assembly. Thisspaced relationship is preferably reinforced by braces as shown at44-46. At any given position of the rotor assembly about its axis ofrotation (exclusive of the loading station), the panels 41-43 define, inconjunction with the appropriate portions of the interior of thehousing, a chamber sealed ofi with respect to adjacent chambers and theexterior of the machine by the seal assemblies 47-49 extending along theaxial outer edges of the panels, and by seals at the top and bottom ofthe panels in the position of the panels 41 and 42 in FIGURE 2. Theselatter seals isolate the spray chamber in which the solution orpaint-removing spray is projected against masks carried by the supports50-52, in sequence, as the rotor proceeds in increments of rotation in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 2. The panels 41 and 42define the spray chamber in conjunction with the inner walls 24, 25 and27 of the housing, together with the top plate 29 and the sump 31. Thespray device 53 may be of any convenient type, either fixed or movable,and will normally either project solvent or hot water against masks heldin the holding devices. A mask is indicated generally in FIGURE 1 at 54,which is held is position by the upper device 51a and the lower device51b. The height of the machine will normally be such that the accessopening 55 in the housing will be disposed so that a workman can placethe mask 54 in engagement with the machine from a convenient standingposition. After the mask 54 has proceeded around the several processingpositions, which will normally include at least spraying and drying, thecleaned mask is removed from the machine. Normally, a mask is placed inthe machine, and the indexing controls then actuated to present a cleanmask to the operator. This same movement rotates the dirty mask into thecleaning chamber for automatic processing.

The spray-generating equipment supplying the spraying device 53 isprovided by the equipment indicated at 56 in FIGURE 5. This structureforms no part of the present invention, and a variety of pumping orother pressuregenerating devices can be used. The solvent or othersprayed material is recirculated from the tank 30, and eventually movesdown into the sump 31, from which it is returned to the tank 30 bydrainage.

The details of the seal structures are best shown in FIG- URES 7 and 8.The axial outer seals along the edges of the panels of the rotor areshown in FIGURE 7, and include the spaced rubber-like flaps 57 and 58 onopposite sides of the panel 41, together with the clamping strips 59 and60 secured by the bolt 61. It is preferable that a spring leaf 62 ofbronze be included in the assembly to reinforce the wiping action of theflaps 57 and 58. The bolt 61 can be tightened to whatever extent isnecessary to produce the desired clamping action against the flaps 57and 58. This same structure is duplicated at the outer axial edges ofthe other panels as well.

The top and bottom edges of the rotor panels are sealed at the positionwhere they define the spray chamber by the structure shown in FIGURE 8.Opposite the position of the top edge of the panels, a steel strip 63 issecured to the top plate 29 of the housing in any convenient fashion.This strip provides the spaced inwardly-slanted flanges 64 and 65 whichreceive the flexible piece 66 of neoprene, or some similar material, toprovide a resilient surface against which the rounded fitting 67, whichdefines the upper edge of the panel 41, may engage as the rotor turnsand assumes its various positions in sequence.

At the lower extremity of the panels, a strip 68 is mounted on thebracket 69 secured to the offset 70 extending from the floor 28 down tothe sump 31. The strip 68 is similar in configuration to the strip 63,and positions the yieldable piece 71 for engagement with the fitting 72.To encourage drainage of spray into the sump, the deflector plates 73and 74 are mounted on opposite sides of the panels as shown. Since eachpanel will alternately define one side and then another of a sprayingchamber, the deflectors 73 and 74 are duplicated along the bottom ofeach panel. To facilitate drainage from the floor 28 into the sump, thebracket 69 is provided with holes as shown at 75 so that any liquiddraining down from the masks or panels onto the floor 28 will find itsway back into the sump 31. The rotor panels may be provided with drainshields as shown at 41a in FIGURE 8. These are set out from the panelsby spacers 41b a sufiicient distance to drain directly into the sump 31.This arrangement takes the direct spray away from the seals, andimproves the operation of the machine.

It is preferable, and usually a safety requirement, that the housing beprovided with ventilating equipment, as indicated by the duct 76 andblower 77 shown in FIG- URE 5. The details of this equipment form nopart of the present invention. The control box 78 shown in FIGURE 1 willnormally include the usual push-button switches and other controls forpredetermining the cycling and indexing of the machine. The componentsof these controls are standard, and form no part of the presentinvention. A variety of explosion-proof switches and other relatedelectrical mechanism usable with fire-hazard devices is mounted in boxessuch as 78b shown in FIGURE 3, and may be selected to suit therequirements of the particular machine. The components of the housingstructure are arranged to provide a particular flow pattern for theventilation draft induced by the blower 77. The solvent vapors normallyencountered in the operation of these machines are heavier than air, andthe darn 55a at the entrance opening tends to trap these vapors in themachine. The panel 26 of the double wall structure is terminated abovethe floor 28, and forms a suction duct leading up into the chamber 76aserved by the blower duct 76. The vapors are therefore sucked off thefloor area where they tend to accumulate. FIGURE 2 shows anotherarrangement for venting the opening 55. The seals in the position of theseal 49 stop at a point where clearance exists, allowing a ventilationdraft to flow inward at this point, as indicated by the arrow.

The driving mechanism for the rotor assembly 36 is best shown in FIGURE9. The source of power for rotating the assembly is derived from thegear motor 79 mounted above the panel 2-9, and secured in any convenientmanner to the housing structure 20. Power is delevered through the chain80 to the sprocket 81 secured to the journal 35 of the rotor. A camplate 82 has its hub 83 also in engagement with the journal 35, and isheld in selected angular position with respect thereto by the set screw'84. A group of switches as shown at 85 and 86 are mounted on bracketsas shown at 87 and 88 secured in any convenient manner to the structureof the housing 20 in position such that these switches can control thegear motor 79 and the spraying device 53. The switch 86, being actuatedby the engagement of its roller 89 with the cam plate 82, can serve tostop the rotation of the rotor. The engagement of the roller 90associated with the switch 85 can be used to reset the circuits inconjunction with the switch 86 to control the indexing of the rotor tothe next operating position.

The modification shown in FIGURES 10, 11 and 12 differs from that of theprevious description by provision of four panels on the rotor, ratherthan three, and in the provision for a rotatable support of the masks asthey move through a spraying station. The housing 91 may be similar inconstruction to that previously described in conjunction with thehousing 20, and a spray head is shown in fixed position with respect tothe housing at 93. The spray 93 may be considered as a washing station,and the chamber identified at 94 will normally be used for drying theresidual spray material from the masks. The chamber 95 may be providedwith a spray unit as shown at 96 for applying a waxy coating to themasks that have been properly cleaned and dried. After emerging from thecoating and drying operation, the masks are presented at the openposition 55 where they are accessible to the workman.

The masks supported by the rotatable racks 97100 identified by positionin FIGURE 10 are selectively driven opposite the spray head 93 by thedevice illustrated in FIGURE 11. The top plate 29 of the housing 91 hasa suitable opening for slidably and rotatably receiving the retractablepin 101. This pin is rotatably received within a bearing structure 102secured to the plate 29, and the sleeve 103 is interposed between thepin 101 and the inside of the bearing structure 102. The sleeve supportsthe hub of the sprocket 104, and the hub 105 of the sprocket istraversed by a diametral pin 106 which also traverses the slot 107 inthe pin 101. Rotation of the sprocket 104 by the chain 108 can becontinuous, with the axial movement of the pin 101 controlled by theactuator 109 positioned by any convenient means such as a solenoid (notshown). The axial movement of the driving pin 101 will bring it to andfrom engagement with the upper end of the tubular shaft 110 of arotatable masksupporting rack mounted in the bearing bracket 111. Thesebrackets are all secured to the rotor structure 112, and the oppositeslots 113 in the upper extremity of the shaft 110 engage the drivingmember 114 of the pin 101. Thus, after the rotor has assumed one of itsindexed positions, actuation of the member 109 will drop the pin 101axially downward so that the drive 114 will engage the slots 113 toinduce rotation of the shaft 110, thus exposing the masks on both sidesto the action of the sprays 93 and 96. If the duration of the washingcycle is sufiiciently long, it is possible that an extra drying stationwill not be necessary after the application of the coating material inthe chamber 95. If this is not true, the number of sectors of the rotor,and the corresponding number of chambers (or stations) in the housingcan be selected to provide the necessary drying time.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have beenillustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only andare not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appendedclaims. In these claims, it is my intent to claim the entire inventiondisclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art.

I claim:

1. An automatic mask-washing machine having a housing andmask-processing means mounted in said housing, and also having a rotorprovided with mask-receiving means, wherein the improvement comprises:

bearing means mounted in said housing receiving journal means on saidrotor;

a plurality of substantially radial panels on said rotor,

said panels each having seals extending into movable sealingrelationship with the walls of said housing to define movable chamberstherein for receiving masks;

indexing means for positioning said rotor in predetermined angularpositions about the axis thereof, at least one of said positionscorresponding to placement of masks carried by said rotor opposite aspraying device mounted in said housing; and

resilient seal means in the floor of said housing opposite the lowerends of panels disposed on opposite sides of said spraying device withsaid rotor in said one position.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing has sump meansat said one position.

3. A machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said housing has drainagefrom the floor thereof into said sump means underneath said resilientseal means.

4. An automatic mask-washing machine having a housing andmask-processing means mounted in said housing, and also having a rotorprovided with mask-receiving means, wherein the improvement comprises:

bearing means mounted in said housing receiving journal means on saidrotor;

a plurality of substantially radial panels on said rotor,

said panels each having seals extending into movable sealingrelationship with the walls of said housing to define movablechamberstherein for receiving masks; and

indexing means for positioning said rotor in predetermined angularpositions about the axis thereof, at least one of said positionscorresponding to placement of masks carried by said rotor opposite aspraying device mounted in said housing, and another of said rotorpositions corresponding to an opening in said housing exposing thesector between angularly adjacent panels of said rotor, and said sealsare disposed with clearance with respect to said housing at the positionof said seals adjacent a vertical edge of said opening, said housingincluding suction ventilating means inducing flow into said opening andthrough said clearance.

5. A machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said housing has a dam alongthe lower edge of said opening.

6. A machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said chamber has a doublewall portion providing a vertical ventilating duct extending to anintake point adjacent the bottom of said chambers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1895 Blakeslee 13479 4/1914Green 13480 9/1932 Hauk 13481 1/1968 Szczepanski 134--78XR US. Cl. X.R.

